(1167 - 1169) Normans arrived; 800-year struggle between English and Irish began

(1170) Anglo-Norman Earl of Pembroke (Strongbow) arrived to aid Irish king of Leinster; the Pale, a line of fortifications was erected; Irish living outside boundary were deemed barbarians "beyond the pale"

(1171) Strongbow became king of Leinster

1200s - 1500s

(1297) First Irish Parliament met in Dublin

(1348-1351) Black death killed third of population

(1366) Statutes of Kilkenny enacted, forbade Irish/English marriages

(1394) King Richard II of England arrived Dublin

(1515) Anarchy in Ireland due to hardships placed on Irish by Anglo-Irish lords

(1541) Henry VIII of England declared himself King of Ireland

(1558) Elizabeth I became queen; tried to outlaw Protestantism in Ireland

(1562) Elizabethan wars took place in Ireland

(1585) Ireland mapped and divided into counties

(1595) Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, began rebellion, start of Nine Years War

(1598) O'Neill victory at Yellow Ford in Ulster

1600s

(1601) O'Neill defeated at battle of Kinsale

(1603) James I became King; O'Neill surrendered; English law enforced in Ireland

(1606) Scots settled in Ards Peninsula; English confiscated land in Ulster

(1641) Catholic-Gaelic rebellion for return of land; English settlers driven out of Ulster; Catholics held 59% of land in Ireland

(2005) IRA declared armed campaign over, confirmed all weapons taken out of action

(2006) Former senior member of Sinn Fein found dead in Irish Republic; IRA said they had no involvement; Stormont assembly sat for first time since suspension in 2002

(2007) On Monday, March 26, 2007, an historic accord was reached. Reverend Ian Paisley, the Protestant leader, and Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein collectively announced that on May 8, 2007, the two hostile groups would form a joint administration, and after years of bloody hostility, finally work together. The British government hailed this as a major breakthrough

(2008) Bloody Sunday Inquiry costs reached £181.2m, report not due until second half of 2008

(2009) Car bomb abandoned outside Castlewellan, was destined for British Army base at Ballykinler, Oglaigh na hEireann claimed responsibility; two British Army soldiers killed by Real Irish Republican Army; Irish National Liberation Army announced armed struggle was over